Spousal Sponsorship

80000+ Canadian spouses and partners invite per year.

Canada intends to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants per year under its Immigration Levels Plan. Around 60% are economic class skilled workers, followed by family class immigrants and refugees. Under the Spouses, Partners, and Children category, Canada hopes to welcome 80,000 family class immigrants each year.

Eligibility

You can sponsor your spouse if you are:

• at least 18 years old

• a Canadian citizen, a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or a permanent resident,

• living in Canada:

  • if you’re a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when your sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident.

  • You can’t sponsor someone if you’re a permanent resident living outside of Canada.

• able to prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, and;

You must also be able to show that you can provide basic needs for:

• yourself,

• your spouse or partner,

• your spouse or partner’s dependent child(ren) (if applicable)

your dependent child(ren) (if you’re sponsoring only your dependent child).

You may not be able to sponsor if you

• are sponsoring a spouse or partner but you signed an undertaking for a previous spouse or partner and it hasn’t been three years since they became a permanent resident,

• previously sponsored someone and did not pay back any social assistance that they received while the undertaking was in place.

• are in default on an immigration loan or a performance bond

• did not pay court-ordered alimony or child support

• have declared bankruptcy which has not been discharged

• are sponsoring a spouse or partner and you were previously sponsored as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and became a permanent resident of Canada less than five years ago,

• were convicted of

1) an offence of a sexual nature

2) a violent crime,

3) an offence against a relative that caused bodily harm or

4) threatened or attempted to commit any of the above offences—depending on the     nature of the offence, how long ago it happened and if you received a pardon

• are under a removal order,

• are in a penitentiary, jail, reformatory or prison,

• have already applied to sponsor your current spouse or partner and haven’t received a decision.

Choose the class of application

1) Apply under the Family Class if:

• the person you want to sponsor lives outside Canada

• the person you want to sponsor currently lives with you in Canada but doesn’t plan to stay in Canada while the application is being processed

• you plan to appeal if the application is refused

• you’re sponsoring your conjugal partner or dependent child

2) Apply under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class if your spouse or common-law partner:

• lives with you in Canada

• has valid temporary resident status in Canada, or is exempt from needing this status under a public policy

• would like to apply for, and qualifies for, an Open Work Permit so that they can work while the application is being processed

Sponsorship Undertaking Agreement

Length of undertaking is 3 years from the day your spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner becomes a permanent resident.When you agree to be a sponsor, you are required to sign an undertaking pledging to provide money for your spouse or partner's and their dependent children's basic requirements.The requirements are:

1) food, clothing, housing, and other necessities of life,

2) other medical need that are not covered by public health services, such as dental and vision care.

Before signing the undertaking agreement, you must make sure the people you sponsor won’t need to ask the government for financial help. If they receive social assistance, you’ll have to pay back what they received during the time you are legally responsible for them. You won’t be able to sponsor anyone else until you’ve repaid the amount.

The undertaking is a binding promise of support, meaning that it is your responsibility to support the applicant(s) for the length of the undertaking period even if your situation changes. The undertaking will stay in effect for the length of the undertaking period, even if your situation changes. The undertaking won’t be cancelled, even if:

• the person you sponsor becomes a Canadian citizen

• you become divorced, separated or your relationship with the sponsored person breaks down

• you or the person you sponsor move to another province or country

• you have financial problems